To make matters worse, Mallinckrodt Chemicals also confirms that formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen in humans.

Minty Menace

Very few things in life are as satisfying as the cold minty feeling after a thorough tooth brushing session.

Peppermint oil, a lipid extracted from peppermint plan leaves, accounts for that iconic minty freshness. This product is also found in countless products ranging from peppermint patties to breath mints.

Beads Found in Fish Stomachs

Here is the good news. If you accidentally ingest micro beads, the plastic spheres pass right through your digestive system.

Here is the bad news. When these little beads drain down the sink with every brush, they ultimately end up in the environment.

As you may predict, these non-bio degradable plastic beads harm fish and aquatic life when accidentally consumed. Plastic continues to wreak havoc on the environment, and micro beads only exacerbate this easily preventable process.

This Dye Need to Die

Yet the agent’s crisp color has a shady research background. In accordance with the Center for Science and Public Interest, research on FD&C Blue 1 has been largely commissioned by industries.

Avoiding this questionable synthetic dye is easily accomplished. Simply opt for a white toothpaste rather than a blue one.

Cancer-Causing Foam

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a foaming agent in several household products including laundry soap, shampoo and body soaps. With sodium lauryl sulfate in so many of our home staples, one would think that this compound is safe for human use.

Unfortunately, when combined with certain compounds, sodium lauryl sulfate converts into nitrosamines, a class of carcinogens.

Fluoride: Friend or Foe?

Sodium fluoride (NaF) sparks controversy to this day due to its uncertain risks and benefits. When added to toothpaste, proponents believe that some doses in the mouth reduce tooth decay.

On the other hand, complications arise at higher doses and persistent exposure. This NaF material safety data sheet unnervingly lists that NaF has an “ambiguous fetotoxic and fertility effects.”

Antifreeze in Your Toothpaste

What do antifreeze and toothpaste have in common? Propylene glycol. This ingredient prevents toothpaste from drying out in the tube.

Brushing your teeth with propylene glycol is completely safe. If you have young children who are beginning to learn healthy oral hygiene, always exercise caution. If swallowed in large doses, this chemical will cause nausea.

Toothpaste May Cause Breast Cancer?

Paraben is a chemical in many personal hygiene products including deodorants, shampoos, shaving gels, and lotions. I’ts purpose is to prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast and mold while also acting as a preservative.

While paraben may appear beneficial, a 2015 study from the University of Illinois attests that paraben products mimic estrogen in the body. An influx of estrogen in the body correlates with a higher risk of breast cancer.

Save Your Skin from DEA

Like sodium lauryl sulfate, diethanolamine (DEA) also assists the creation of foam in toothpaste. Like parabens, DEA disrupts hormones and synthesizes cancer-causing nitrates.

Unfortunately, this additive is not free of guilt either.

According to a study found in the scientific journal Contact Dermatitis, DEA is a potential skin irritant.

Will You Continue Buying Toothpaste From The Store?

Perhaps these ingredients are responsible for that tenth dentist’s disapproval. Who knew all these ingredients sneak into something as innocuous as toothpaste? Hey, nine other dentists! I thought I could trust you!

Perhaps we all need to reconsider this whole dental hygiene thing. Thank you to the tenth dentist for looking out for us.

So, now what? Are we all doomed to a life of halitosis and avoiding store-bought toothpaste?

Absolutely not. Thankfully, there are indeed alternatives, and we don’t need to toss brushing our teeth out the window (not recommended). Several homemade alternatives ditch the harsh chemicals in favor of more simple and natural ingredients.

As always, whether you decide to change your habits is ultimately up to you.

Important Disclaimer: The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease.

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